WOH For Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017
Finding Christmas Spirit at Costco by Kristen Okabayashi, Hope Principal
Many of us in West Seattle shop at Costco store #001 in SODO, a busy location that is often nutty to shop at due to all the people who live nearby. Being a family with four boys, we visit Costco often! For those of us who are familiar with that location, you might have noticed the recent move of our favorite greeter, Tom Goessman. Tom moved to Glendale, Arizona, due to the warmer weather, because he contracted polio as a child. The Seattle Times even had a short article about his move last week because so many people asked about him!
I’m taking this time to write about Tom because he was a gift to my family, and too many other families as well. The Times mentioned that hundreds of people responded to their article about Tom. Amidst all the craziness of shopping at Costco, he would be the one at the door who would take the time to guess how much our cart of items cost, and often be within $10 of the total amount miraculously. He would draw animals on the receipts to entertain the boys, and take the time to chat with us regardless of how busy it was. I would leave my shopping experience with him at the door feeling at peace and with a smile on my face. He was such a special part of our lives that our youngest boys Ben and David even invited him to their 4th birthday party!
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, I think of Tom as representing Christmas spirit. He would take a moment to talk with every single person, joke with them, and make them feel good about themselves. That man channels Christmas joy and love, and he has positively impacted more lives probably more than any single person I have personally met. May we all take a page from the “Tom journal” and spread the love and kindness of Jesus this season! Merry Christmas to you from all of us at Hope.
Calendar of Events – Click Here
Wed. 12/13: No Chapel / Holiday socks, tights with Uniforms / 7:00 PM Sounds of Winter Concert
Thurs. 12/14: Holiday hats, headbands with Uniforms
Fri. 12/15: Free Dress Festive Friday / 8:40 AM Chapel led by Grade 2 / Noon Dismiss for Christmas Break / ESC “XTRA” Open
Dec. 18 to Jan. 1: Christmas Break – No School & No ESC
Tues. Jan. 2: School Resumes
Last Hope School Christmas Performance
Hope’s middle school musicians will perform in our annual “Sounds of Winter” concert tomorrow Wednesday, December 14 at 7:00 PM. The concert will feature our middle school chapel band and choir, handbell choir, and glee club performing with the Seattle Lutheran High School band. We hope you can join us for our last festive event held in the Hope Church sanctuary. Merry Christmas!
Toy Drive This Week
New or gently/clean used small toys, stuffed animals, cars/trucks, baseballs/caps are needed at Ensenada Christian Ministries to give to children during their Christmas celebration. Diane Mebust, our missionary from Mexico, is thankful that we can bring joy to these children through sharing of our toys. Students are welcomed to drop their gift of a toy in the bin in the school lobby this week. Thank you!
Santa Grams – Sold Through Thursday Morning
Student Council are selling Santa Grams this week before and after school in the school lobby for .50 cents per Santa Gram. These are special messages that can be given to peers, teachers or family members. They are then attached to a candy cane and they will be delivered to classrooms on Friday, Dec. 15th.
1st Trimester Report Cards / Honor Roll
Your students’ 1st trimester report cards are coming home today, December 12. Please keep your copy, sign the envelope to verify receipt and return to your student’s homeroom teacher. Please contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns. Middle school honor roll students will be recognized during chapel this Friday, December 15.
Directory Email Correction
Please note that we have an incorrect email address for Patra Mueller. Her email address is patramueller@hopeseattle.org. Please change your directories to reflect this update. Thank you.
Re-Enrollment for Fall 2018 – January 15-26
Christmas break will fly by and before we know it, it will be time to re-enroll for the fall 2018! Re-enrollment will begin January 15th to the 26th for currently enrolled families. You will receive more information on our online re-enrollment process the second week of January. On January 29th we will begin processing new applications from the community. If you have any questions about re-enrollment, please email or call the school office or admissions director.
Emergency Supplies
Thank you so much to the Hope Foundation and to PTH for funding emergency supplies for Hope School! We just received 3 large containers with a 3 day supply of food bars and water for our student body and staff, to use in the event of an emergency which we hope never happens. We appreciate the generosity of both groups in funding this important project.
School Athletic Events – Click Here
Before & After School Clubs – Click Here
PTH & PIP Opportunities – Click Here
Mrs. Okabayashi needs help next week to assemble emergency bins for use on campus. Please email her at kokabayashi@hopeseattle.org with available dates and times next week.
Church News & Activities – Click Here
Join Hope Church for any or all of their Christmas worship services:
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: 4:00 pm- Family Contemporary Service, 6:00 pm- Family Contemporary Service, 11:00 pm- Candlelight & Communion Service
Christmas Day: 10:30 am – Worship Celebration
Please note there are no services Christmas Eve day or New Years’ day.
New Hope Church Office Assistant
We are pleased to announce that Katherine Harper-Cooley has been hired to serve as our new part time Hope Church Office Assistant. Since January 2017, she has been serving as Hope’s Sunday morning Nursery Coordinator and will continue to do so. Katherine and her husband, Eric, have two young sons, Spencer and Oliver. We are excited to welcome Katherine to this important role at Hope!
Little Saints Basketball Camp at SLHS
Join us for fun this winter for basketball camp.
- Who: 3rd-5th Grade (all abilities welcome)
- What: Basketball instruction, fun, and games led by Josh Meyer (Alumnus, and current Northwest University player).
- When: December 19-21, 9 am -12 pm, (snack provided).
- Where: Seattle Lutheran High School Gymnasium: 4100 SW Genesee St, Seattle WA, 98116
- How: Click HERE to register online.
Our goal is to develop the skills necessary to compete while establishing a love for the game. At camp your child will receive instruction on dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, playing defense, etc.